Play With Me: A High School Bully Romance (Diamond In The Rough Book 1)(27)

I held my hand up. “Allison.”

She sighed. “Sorry.”

The two of us turned toward the bathroom exit.

“What the heck was that all about anyway?” she breathed.

And as my mind swirled with the encounter, my shock turned to rage. I knew exactly what it was about. I knew exactly where that information had come from. Though I didn’t want to admit it—nor did I want to believe it—I knew what was happening. I knew what Clint was doing.

“It was a wake-up call, Allison. That’s what it was. And it’s time I finally listened to the alarm.”

It was time for me to accept that my weakest moment would now be used against me. Especially if my suspicions regarding why were correct.

I turned to Allison. “Is Clint at school today?”

She paused. “Yes. He was in first period math today with Michael.”

“Good.”

I started out of the bathroom, feeling Allison trail behind as I turned my attention to him. That boy. The boy I had a strong feeling had been manipulating me from the beginning.

It was time for me to get some answers.





24





Clinton





Marina choked down that damn banana like she probably choked down Roy’s fucking dick. She sat on his lap, giggling and kissing the tip of his nose like the innocent girl Roy wanted her to be. He had a sick sense of humor, wanting to destroy innocence like that. I liked my women primed, though. Already knowing what they wanted, and ready to bestow their talents upon me.

Then again, I hadn’t thought about any girl since my encounters with Rae.

“Oh, Clint. Where’d you get those bruises?”

“Here, let me help.”

“Can I do anything for you?”

“Do you want me to get you some ice cream?”

I looked over at Roy and he winked. He was right. Women couldn't resist a guy with bruises on his fucking face. But if they knew how I’d gotten those bruises, it would be a different story. The line of girls coming up to me asked me where I got them, and each time my fight story became a little more dramatic. It went from some kid on the side of the road to some kid picking on a girl on the side of the road. Then, it morphed into some college kid on the side of the road picking on his fiancée before I offered to show her what a real man could provide.

It was the first time in my life I ever felt pathetic for it.

“Clint!”

Rae’s voice pierced through the cafeteria and my eyes fell upon her. She strode with intensity in her movements and a sour expression on her face. The girl at my side, trying to practically spoon-feed me ice cream, got up and stepped off to the side. Roy chuckled and out of the corner of my eye I saw Marina’s lips curve into a wide grin. I spread my arms out, letting my knees fall apart in the stance I was known for.

Spreading myself wide for all to see.

Gotta keep up appearances.

Rae stopped in front of me. “Fancy seeing you at school.”

I shrugged. “Can’t keep everything hidden forever.”

She grinned. “No, you can’t.”

I flickered my eyes over to Allison and saw her staring at Marina. I didn’t know what the fuck that bitch had done, but it had certainly pissed the two of them off. Rae had her hands balled up into fists. Hell, so did Allison. I narrowed my eyes softly—well, my good eye. The other one was still too swollen. I tried to read her, to figure out why the hell she was storming up to me in the cafeteria on a whim.

I mean, I had to give her props for her balls. Especially after the encounter with Roy the other day. But what was her problem?

I licked my lips. “Can I help you?”

Marina giggled. “Yeah, Rae. Can Clint help himself to you?”

Roy let out a bark of a laugh as the rest of the guys around us chuckled. But Rae didn’t bat an eye. She kept staring at me. Glaring at me. With those fists balled up, ready to fly.

Then she pointed her trembling finger at me.

“I’m only going to tell you this once, because I’m done with your antics.”

Marina smacked her lips. “Oooh, scary. Practically a haunted house.”

Roy wrapped his arm around her waist. “I bet her house is one.”

Everyone snickered again. But Rae didn’t move. She stood strong, and I admired her for that. Because my friends could be ruthless when they chose to be.

I sighed. “What is it, Cleaver?”

Her eye twitched. “If this is the kind of bullshit I have to put up with to be friends with you, then it’s not worth it. Do you hear me? I’m not going to be cornered in a bathroom and teased relentlessly for shit I’m trying to do to help you. To befriend you. To see the decent fucking person beyond the shitstain that is the boy that walks into this school every day.”

I watched her shoot a killer look at Marina before her eyes came back to mine.

“So if these are the lowlifes you’re going to hang out with? These stubborn, ignorant, pig-headed, ugly people? Then we’re through. You and me, and whatever this is, it’s over.”

I blinked at her, not knowing what to say. Did she really expect me to make a choice right now? In front of my friends? When our fuckable encounters were nothing more than rumor at this point? I looked over at Marina, watching her practically foaming at the mouth. What the hell had she done to these two girls?

I cast a glare at Roy before my eyes panned back to Rae.

She furrowed her brow. “I guess I have my answer then?”

What the fuck did she really expect me to do? I mean, I knew we had something special. A connection I’d never shared with anyone else. She got me, and I got her. And when I was with her, the rest of the world faded away. But when she wasn’t around, when we weren’t behind closed doors, the world existed. Sure, it was only high school. And yeah, I hung around shitty people. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to spend my senior year—the last glory year of my life—fucking around in the shadows and having spit balls stuck to the back of my head.

She’s the only person who doesn’t make you feel like shit, Clint. Don’t do this.

“Well?” Marina asked.

I kept staring at Rae as I answered her. “Put a cock in it and shut up.”

Everyone snickered again behind me except Roy. He didn’t stand up for her, but he sure as hell didn’t buck up to me. He knew his place.

Like everyone else.

You don’t have to put on a show with Rae.

“Well?” she asked.

I didn’t know what to do. Things with her were so new. I mean, days old kind of new. And it was terrifying. What was I supposed to do? Toss the entirety of my reputation away on a girl I’d fucked around with for a few days? She wasn’t just any girl, though. Even I knew that. But was I ready for a move like that? Was I ready to abandon my post as top dog of this school and attempt something else with her? Something that wasn’t guaranteed?

For all I knew, this was a ploy of hers. A ploy to peel me away from my throne so she could wreak revenge and havoc on my life. I mean, we had a history, she and I. And not simply a sexual one. I’d made her life a living nightmare freshman year. And she’d been my target on and off for the rest of high school.

For all I knew, this was her revenge. Her plan. And with Allison at her side after what I did to Michael? It wouldn't have shocked me one bit.

I’m not ready to take that chance yet.

Rae sighed. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

Marina giggled. “You mean, did he do you on purpose?”

I grumbled, “Put a muzzle on that girl or get her the fuck away from this table.”

Roy scoffed. “Say what now?”

Rae sighed. “It’s fine. Just don’t play stupid. I know they know. I’ve accepted that. But at least give me the satisfaction of confirming the nightmare I’ve already come to terms with.”

I shrugged. “Not sure what you mean.”

Roy chuckled. “She means, did you fuck her in order to use it against her? Because honestly, if you did? Fucking props to you. Because that’s some lowdown shit and I love it.”

Marina cackled. “Cleaver Beaver the Dick Eater. Has a nice ring to it.”

Roy threw his head back in laughter and the gang behind me joined in. I sat there, staring up at Rae, and I saw Allison tearing up, getting emotional for her. It was the first time I’d ever felt guilty for teasing someone. For pushing someone around. I wanted to apologize to them for what happened with Michael. I wanted to apologize for the unhinged animals behind me, cackling and barking with laughter like feral fucking animals.

Rae nodded. “This was always going to be used against me, wasn’t it?”

Her voice was so soft, it almost got swallowed up by the laughter around me. And yet I heard it. Loud and clear. Like a fucking bullhorn. How the fuck could she even think that? Did I come off as that terrible of a person? That much of an asshole?

Because that was some shit my father would have pulled in his younger years.

Holy shit, I’m turning into my father.

Allison sniffled. “Come on, Rae. Let’s get out of here. None of them are worth it.”

Marina snickered. “Not what Rae thought when she was spreading her legs.”

“Can it!” I roared.

The entire fucking cafeteria came to a grinding halt as I looked over at that bitch.

“What the fuck has your boyfriend, on numerous occasions, told you about that disgusting mouth of yours? Either keep it closed or take Roy somewhere and stuff it full. Got it? Holy fuck, Marina.”